Tag: lockdown

  • Exports of leather garments witness 10.15 per cent increase

    Exports of leather garments witness 10.15 per cent increase

    Owing to a partial recovery of international orders and government support programmes, Pakistan’s non-textile exports increased by 25.85 per cent year over year to $12.46 billion in the preceding 2021–22.

    The value-added sectors are primarily driving overall growth in the non-textile sector. According to data produced by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday, the non-textile sector has not yet received full orders to pre-Covid levels.

    Despite lockdowns in several nations, three industries—leather clothing, medical equipment, and engineering goods—maintained growth in export revenues in FY21.

    Exports of leather clothing increased by 10.15 per cent and those of leather gloves by 10.60 per cent in the value-added leather industry. In contrast, raw leather exports rose by more than 28.50% over the previous fiscal year.

    One of the major producers of surgical instruments worldwide is Pakistan. However, well-known brands resell these instruments in western nations. Because of this, the export value of these goods is still extremely low.

    In FY22, surgical tool exports experienced a 1.29 per cent decline. Pharmaceutical exports, however, decreased by 0.49 per cent.

  • Police arrest pair trying to enter Auckland with ‘large amount’ of KFC

    Police arrest pair trying to enter Auckland with ‘large amount’ of KFC

    New Zealand police have arrested two men with a car full of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and over $100,000 in cash as they tried to cross the border into locked down Auckland amid the pandemic.

    As per reports, the men were detained after allegedly trying to flee from police near the Auckland border. When their car was searched, police said they found a large quantity of KFC, as well as the cash and a number of empty ounce bags.

    Auckland is in strict lockdown and restaurants are not allowed to open and citizens are not allowed to order takeaway food.

    Read More: KFC suspends its ‘Finger Lickin’ Good’ slogan due to Covid-19

    After the KFC arrest, a police spokesperson said “officers noticed a suspicious-looking vehicle travelling on a gravel road, and upon seeing the police car, the vehicle did a U-turn and sped off trying to evade police.

    “The vehicle was searched and police located the cash, alongside empty ounce bags and a large number of takeaways.”

    Close examination of the police evidence photos revealed at least three buckets of chicken, up to 10 tubs of coleslaw, and an a large quantity of fries.

  • Despite partial lockdown in Punjab, over 4,000 COVID cases reported in 24 hours

    Despite partial lockdown in Punjab, over 4,000 COVID cases reported in 24 hours

    Pakistan reported 4,062 new coronavirus infections over the last 24 hours in country for the first time in seven days.

    According to National Command Operation Center (NCOC), a total of 63,161 COVID-19 tests were taken on Thursday, out of which 84 people lost their lives to the deadly virus, pushing the toll to 26,497. 

    All Punjab educational institutions were closed last week due to the high spike in cases. Punjab government has also imposed lockdown in various areas of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad.

    Currently, the country is fighting against the fourth wave of the global pandemic and the average daily case count has been fluctuating between 3,000-4,000 range for almost a week.

    The positivity rate now remains at 6.43%. Moreover, Pakistan is reporting 3,778 new infections on average each day.

    Last week, the country averaged about 1,192,780 administered vaccine doses each day.

  • ‘That moustache is not coming home’: Shaniera warns Wasim

    ‘That moustache is not coming home’: Shaniera warns Wasim

    Shaniera Akram, who is currently stuck in Australia due to Covid-19 restrictions, has warned her husband to remove his moustache before going there.

    Taking to Instagram, Wasim Akram, who is quarantining in Melbourne, posted a video of himself and shared that it’s his eighth day in quarantine and he has grown a moustache.

    While commenting on his post, Shaniera said: “That moustache is not coming home with you.”

    The former cricketer reached Autralia last weak and posted, saying: “Day 6th in quarantine 8 more days to go . I look and feel like total junglee and before you ask I am in Melbourne to be with my wife and little princess.”

    Replying to her husband, Shaniera said: “We love you and can’t wait to see you! Countdown is on. Aiyla and I are waiting for you. You are our absolute Hero.”

    Earlier, Shaniera posted an emotional note for Akram on being away for 145 days. Shaniera, who is originally from Melbourne, Australia, went to her home city in January and due to the coronavirus pandemic, she could not return to Karachi where she lives with her husband and children.

  • Covid-19: New lockdown restrictions in Islamabad

    Amid the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, new lockdown orders have been announced for Islamabad. As per the notification, the following restrictions have been imposed:

    • Cinemas closed
    • Shrines closed
    • Transport 50%
    • Offices 50%
    • Saturday and Sunday full lockdown
    • All indoor functions/weddings banned
    • Time for markets 8pm
    • Contact sports , pools, parks closed
    • Masks compulsory
    • Gyms allowed for vaccinated individuals only

    The new Covid-19 restrictions were imposed on August 3 and will remain in place till August 31.

    As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan has recorded 4,722 new cases of Covid-19 with the positivity rate of 8.22 per cent.

  • Sindh to go into complete lockdown from tomorrow

    The Sindh government has decided to impose lockdown in the province till August 8, starting from tomorrow. The decision was taken during a provincial coronavirus task force meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday.

    The decision to impose the lockdown has been taken to curb the recent surge of Covid-19 cases in the province. During the meeting of Provincial Corona Task Force, Sindh Health Secretary Dr Kazim Jato said that the positivity rate in Karachi during the last 24 hours was 23 per cent, 14.52 per cent in Hyderabad and 2.9 per cent in Sukkur.

    The following decisions were taken in the meeting today:

    • Vaccination cards of citizens roaming the streets will be checked.
    • All markets will remain closed during the lockdown.
    • All government offices will be closed from next week.
    • Pharmacies will remain open.
    • Unvaccinated government t employees will not get salaries after August 31.

    However, businesses associated with the export sector will be allowed to operate.

    As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan has recorded 4,537 new cases of Covid-19 with the positivity rate of 7.79 per cent.

  • Two-week lockdown likely to be imposed in Sindh

    Two-week lockdown likely to be imposed in Sindh

     A decision on whether a two-week lockdown will be imposed in Karachi or not will be taken today during the provincial task force on coronavirus meeting at the Cheif Minister (CM) House on Friday.

    The Sindh health department has recommended clamping a two-week complete lockdown to contain the spread of the pandemic in Karachi as the positivity rate has gone beyond an alarming 30 per cent in the megacity.

    Given the unsettling circumstances of the COVID-19 cases in Karachi, the task force has received a strong proposal to impose a complete lockdown in the metropolis.

    Medical experts and the health department suggested halting inter-city and intra-city commute for two weeks.

    It has been proposed that the educational institutes also remain closed for two weeks.

  • Australian man escapes quarantine using bedsheets

    Australian man escapes quarantine using bedsheets

    A man in Perth, Australia, escaped mandatory quarantine in a hotel room by using a rope made of tied together bedsheets from a fourth-floor window, reports Reuters.

    He arrived in Perth from Brisbane but was told to leave the state within 48 hours, failing to get a mandatory pass before travel, and was sent to a hotel. However, he fled in the middle of the night but was caught and charged with failure to comply with a direction and providing false information.

    Last week, the Western Australia Police Force shared images on their official Facebook account, showing his escape strategy, and informed that he was arrested later and tested Covid-19 negative.

    As per reports, Travis Jay Myles appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court via an audio link. The report added that he did not apply for bail and will remain in custody until early August when his 14-day quarantine period ends.

    G2G passes registration and declaration prior to entry is mandatory for all travelers in Western Australia. The process will declare where the individual has been in the 14 days before their entry and whether they have any Covid symptoms or not.

    More than half of Australia is in lockdown and restrictions have been imposed to stop the spread of the Delta variant.

    Moreover, the vaccination process is quite slow as only 11 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated. The main cause of this is that Australians under 60 are advised to get the Pfizer vaccine, but supplies are very limited.

  • FIR filed against Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani for violating COVID-19 SOPs

    FIR filed against Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani for violating COVID-19 SOPs

    Bollywood actors Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani have landed themselves in trouble as Mumbai Police registered an FIR against the two for allegedly violating COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures  (SOPs).

    As per reports, Shroff and Patani were roaming near the Bandra bandstand in the evening after the 2 pm deadline breaking the lockdown rules.

    “The case was registered under section 188 (Disobeying the order of public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). No arrest was made because it is a bailable section,” the police told ANI.

    Read More: Nisha Rawal accuses star husband Karan Mehra of domestic violence

    Amidst the second wave of the pandemic, Maharashtra is one of the worst-hit states in India with a total tally of 5.78 million cases. All essential shops are allowed to operate between 7 am to 2 pm in the area. The state is under lockdown till June 15.

    The country has reported 28,441,986 Covid’19 cases and 338,013 deaths so far.

  • Indian couple gets married on plane to avoid COVID restrictions

    Indian couple gets married on plane to avoid COVID restrictions

    Following a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, India has imposed a strict lockdown to curb the virus spread hindering the plans of those who had organised traditional and fancy Indian weddings.

    A couple hailing from Tamil Nadu did not bother even for a raging pandemic and seems to have decided nothing would stand in the way of their special day.

    Rakesh and Dakshina bucked restrictions in their home state to charter a SpiceJet flight from Madurai to Bangalore, along with over a hundred guests, so they could get married in mid-air with all their relatives and friends.

    The couple reportedly waited until the aircraft was flying over the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple to bless their union.

    India Today reported that the couple had actually tied the knot in a private ceremony held earlier, but decided to host a ceremony onboard an aircraft to make their big day ‘memorable’.

    Read more – Bride marries wedding guest after groom-to-be ‘disappears’

    The couple claimed that all passengers on board were their relatives who had taken the COVID-19 test and presented negative test results.

    An airport director confirmed to ANI that a SpiceJet chartered flight had been booked from Madurai but said officials were unaware of the mid-air marriage ceremony.